The influence of genetically modified glyphosate-tolerant maize CC-2 on rhizosphere bacterial communities revealed by MiSeq sequencing

Abstract

Genetically modified (GM) crops have brought huge economic benefits to mankind, however, at the same time, their safety issues are drawing growing attention. This investigation was conducted to assess whether the long-term cultivation of GM glyphosate resistant maize CC-2 effects bacterial communities in the rhizosphere soil. A 2-year follow-up trial was conducted, and soils were sampled at various plant developmental stages. The bacterial community structure of the rhizosphere soil was analysed by the high-throughput sequencing and compared with the near-isogenic non-GM maize Zheng 58. We showed here that long-term cultivation of CC-2 has no significant effect on the structure and diversity of bacterial communities, while different growth stages had significant effect. These results provided a reliable theoretical basis for the future cultivation and increased commercialisation of CC-2.